Electrical connector and method of assembly

Abstract

A connector comprises a first housing having a shoulder on an end thereof. A second housing has a first thread on an end thereof. A coupling nut engages the shoulder and has a second thread on an end thereof, where the second thread is engageable with the first thread. Engagement of the first thread and the second thread brings the first housing and the second housing into an operative position with no more than two revolutions of the coupling nut. A method of assembling a connector comprises providing a first housing having a shoulder on an end thereof. A coupling nut engages the shoulder. A first thread on the coupling nut engages a second thread on a second housing, and rotating the coupling nut no more than two revolutions brings the first housing and the second housing into an operative position.

1 . A connector comprising:
 a first housing having a shoulder on an end thereof;   a second housing having a first thread on an end thereof; and   a coupling nut engaging the shoulder and having a second thread on an end thereof, the second thread being engageable with the first thread such that engagement of the first thread and the second thread brings the first housing and the second housing into an operative position with no more than two revolutions of the coupling nut.   
   
   
       2 . The connector of  claim 1 , wherein the first thread and the second thread each comprise a stub acme thread. 
   
   
       3 . The connector of  claim 1 , wherein the first thread and the second thread each comprise an acme thread. 
   
   
       4 . The connector of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second thread have a single start. 
   
   
       5 . The connector of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second thread have a double start. 
   
   
       6 . The connector of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a seal element within the first housing, the seal element having an axial passage therethrough; and   a plurality of circumferential sealing lips spaced apart along the axial passage and sized such that each of the plurality of circumferential sealing lips provide a compression seal along a cable element inserted through the axial passage.   
   
   
       7 . The connector of  claim 6 , wherein the seal element is made of an elastomer chosen from the group consisting of: a natural rubber, a synthetic rubber, a fluoroelastomer, a perfluoroelastomer, and an ethylene propylene diene rubber. 
   
   
       8 . The connector of  claim 6 , wherein the seal element further comprises a pair of opposed sealing lips having a recessed surface therebetween. 
   
   
       9 . The connector of  claim 6 , wherein an initial compression of the plurality of circumferential sealing elements against the cable element is in the range of  5 - 15 %. 
   
   
       10 . The connector of  claim 6 , wherein at least one sealing lip is located in a boot integral to the seal element. 
   
   
       11 . The connector of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a gripping contact having a plurality of fingers, the plurality of fingers having a substantially conical outer surface;   a contact receptacle having a substantially conical inner surface; and   a tension member urging the gripping contact into the contact receptacle such that interaction between the substantially conical outer surface and the substantially conical inner surface forces the plurality of fingers to engagingly compress the electrical conductor placed between the fingers.   
   
   
       12 . A method of assembling a connector comprising:
 providing a first housing having a shoulder on an end thereof;   engaging a coupling nut with the shoulder;   engaging a first thread on the coupling nut with a second thread on a second housing; and   rotating the coupling nut no more than two revolutions to bring the first housing and the second housing into an operative position.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first thread and the second thread each comprise a stub acme thread. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first thread and the second thread each comprise an acme thread. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first and second thread have a single start. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first and second thread have a double start. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 inserting an electrical conductor between a plurality of fingers of a gripping contact, the plurality of fingers having a substantially conical outer surface; and   urging the substantially conical outer surface of the gripping contact to interact with a substantially conical inner surface of a contact receptacle such that the interaction forces the plurality of fingers to engage the electrical conductor.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein urging the substantially conical outer surface of the gripping contact to interact with a substantially conical inner surface of a contact receptacle such that the interaction forces the plurality of fingers to engage the electrical conductor comprises connecting a tension member between the gripping contact and the contact receptacle such that the tension member is actuated to move the gripping contact and the contact receptacle toward each other. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 forming a plurality of sealing lips spaced apart along an axial passage of an elastomer seal element disposed in the first housing;   sizing each of the plurality of sealing lips such that each of the plurality of sealing lips provide a compression seal along a cable element inserted through the axial passage.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising locating at least a portion of the plurality of sealing lips along an axial passage of a boot integrally connected to the elastomer seal element such that fluid pressure on an external surface of the boot increases the compression of the sealing lips on the cable element.